Loyola’s cheerleading squad has not been in high spirits lately, faced with thoughts of a possible shutdown.
At the beginning of the academic year, the team began with 10 girls, but that number has dwindled down to five – all managing without a licensed coach.
Michelle Lu, finance sophomore and captain of the squad, said their biggest challenge is finding a licensed coach in order to tumble and perform stunts legally.
When last season’s coach and adviser Crystal Guidry, processing and records specialist for admissions, left the squad for personal reasons, the team immediately began looking both on and off campus for someone new, Lu said.
Cecilia Montenegro, technical services assistant for Monroe Library, volunteered to fill the position as the squad’s adviser and initially was going to be the coach as well, but did not have a license. A license is required to ensure the safety and correct instruction of the squad.
In late October, the cheerleaders recommended a New Orleans Saints cheerleader as a possible candidate to the Athletic Department.
“We agreed that this would be it an improvement to their program and found the funds for this position,” Michael Giorlando, athletics director, said.
Lu said the situation began to look hopeful even though the Saintsation was going to charge $4 per team member, per hour. The team decided to hold a bake sale and date auction to help fundraise and allow the Saintsation to coach once a week and attend the home games.
A member of the athletics department interviewed her and offered the position, but she didn’t accept it because she was offered a new job opportunity, Giorlando said.
Lu said the team worked alongside the athletic department during the month to find other candidates, but nothing successful came out of the arrangements. The team still has no coach.
“We’re really upset over it, we really love cheerleading, but there’s only so much we can do,” Mandi Borne, political science freshman, said.
The team relies on the money allocated from the Student Government Association, as well as fundraisers. Last year, SGA allocated 12 uniforms; even though the team needed equipment this season, SGA is only allowed to fund equipment every three years, Lu said. SGA vice president and political science senior Adam Kohler said, “We have no record of them applying (for aid).” He added that SGA does not fund personal items such as t-shirts or shoes.
“We are working so hard but we don’t have anyone over us to help us out,” Lu said. “We’re not getting help from anyone and anything that we try to get funding for we keep getting turned down. It’s not working out to where we can see a future.”
The team still practices two to three times weekly in the Rec Plex and attends all home basketball games. With the lack of numbers, Lu rallies old team members just to help fill the positions.
“We believe their presence and spirit is a positive addition to the game environment,” Giorlando said. “Just like with any other program in our department, we are looking for ways to improve within the confines of the resources that we have.”
Rosie Dao can be reached [email protected].
